NWT signs language deal

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YELLOWKNIFE - An agreement on proposed initiatives for the development of Aboriginal languages in the Northwest Territories has been signed by Secretary of State Benoit Bouchard and NWT Government Leader Nick Sibbeston.

On signing the agreement, Bouchard said: the agreement "underscores our joint recognition of the importance of preserving Aboriginal languages in Canada, and in particular the Aboriginal languages of the people of the North.

"The Territorial government has made great strides in preserving the indigenous languages and cultures of the NWT, and I am proud the federal government can be a part of this important linguistic undertaking."

The NWT Government has responsibility for implementing the projects, under this agreement, including:

- a Task Force on Aboriginal people to advise the Government of the Northwest Territories on a long-term strategy to improve public services in Aboriginal languages, and to develop them to the point where they can be used as working languages;

- community language support community based language research, and literacy training to residents;

- training of instructors of Inuvialuktun and Loucheux through the Department

of Education; adult classes given in Inuvialuktun; and the publishing of grammar texts clarifying the two dialects of Inuvialuktun;

- an Inuit children's television project actively involving young people;

- expansion of the Language Bureau to improve access to the public services

by Aboriginal people, and facilitate non-profit organizations in receiving language assistance.

Bouchard said that these initiatives will contribute to the enriching of the maternal languages of the northern Aboriginal people, and consequently of their culture, and help to build a stronger bond between the young and the Elders within the Aboriginal cultures.